76

but at no time does the doctrine of evolution ever contem-plate the direct change of one organism into another; andanother important part of the doctrine is, that when organ-isms become determinate in a particular direction and reacha. high state of perfeetion, their chances of evolution becomelessened if not Dullified. It would seem, on the other hand,that when the limit of integration is reached the type tendsto decay. It may be thus with the germs of disease, and,probably, from their low type of life, the limit is soonreached. Thus it is not improbable that some diseases willdisappear altogether from sheer decay before we are able todiscover their nature, or we may stamp them out before theyhave time to decay.The theory of the spontaneous origin of disease supposes

that a disease may be produced from organic germs differentfrom itself, and that these germs may arise directly fromcombinations of inorganic matter. The advocates of thisview, however, among whom Bastian is one of the mostnoted, can hardly have understood the tremendous nature ofthe postulates they demand. The simplest process of

chemistry, such as the formation of a drop of water fromits constituent gases, requires as much force as would fur-nish a flash of lightning ; and yet we have people who askus to believe that creatures as high in the scale as para-mecia, and even acari, can arise spontaneously.

In treating of the subject of epidemics, the lecturer men-tioned the recent paper of Dr. Tripe, in which he statesthat his investigations as to scarlatina seem to point to theexistence of periodic waves of disease. If, as Dr. Tripeconcludes, scarlatina, like other diseases, is controlled byinfluences which are not within the scope of ordinaryhygienic means, we cannot hope to stamp it out, but mustonly expect to modify it by care. It may be, however, thatthe apparent periodicity of certain diseases arises from thefact of a severe epidemic exhausting the supply of suscep-tible individuals.The scientific history of epidemics has still to be written,

but good work is being done in that direction. The scienceof statistics must be at the base of all inquiries on the sub-ject, and ought to be more generally taught. A properattention to it would prevent crude generalisations frominsufficient data. When facts are honestly collected andsufficiently numerous, averages give a very fair approxima-tion to the truth.In concluding his discourse the lecturer expressed a hope

that he had been successful, however imperfectly, in puttingbefore his hearers reasons for believing that there was agreat future for sanitation, and that, if the State did its

duty, this subject must be hereafter one of its chief cares.

CHARING-CROSS HOSPITAL.

THE annual distribution of prizes took place in the Board-room of the hospital on the 24th ultimo, the chair beingably filled by Admiral Strange, a governor of the hospital,and one of its warmest supporters.The report, which was presented by Mr. Hird, the Dean,

alluded to many matters which were subjects for congratu-lation. The arrangements for teaching had been greatlyimproved by the opening of a fine new suite of Physiologicallaboratories ; the opening of two new wards offered a widerfield than heretofore for clinical study; the library had beenenriched by a gift of over two hundred valuable books fromMr. Hancock ; and the system of test examinations, whichhad been lately instituted, had borne good fruit, in anunusual amount of success attained by the students at theCollege and other examinations. That these various pointswere appreciated was evidenced by the fact that during thepast year fifty new students had attended the various coursesof lectures.The following is the prize-list for the year :-JUNE 24TH, 1875.-Llewellyn Scholarship, Mr. P. B,

Conolly; Governors’ Clinical Gold Medal, Mr. Walter J,Brookes. Anatomy, Senior (Silver Medal), Mr. ArthmGreenwood; Certificates, Mr. D. Colquhoun, Mr. HaywarcWhitehead, and Mr. F. S. Boreham. Anatomy, J I1nio](Bronze Medal), Mr. H. Hoole; Certificates, Mr. Sidney FNewton and Mr. A. D. Leahy. Physiology, Senior (SilverMedal), Mr. D. Colquhoun ; Certificates, Mr. Haywarc

Whitehead and Mr. J. L. Robertson. Physiology, Junior(Bronze Medal), Mr. H. Hoole; Certificates, Mr. Sydney F.Newton and Mr. A. D. Leahy. Chemistry (Silver Medal),Mr. H. Hoole. Medicine Senior (Silver Medal), Mr. WalterJ. Brookes; Certificates, Mr. E. Manby Rodwell, Mr.Herbert Packer, and Mr. P. B. Conolly. Medicine, Junior(Bronze Medal), Mr. D. Colquhoun; Certificates, Mr. Hay-ward Whitehead and Mr. Arthur Greenwood. SurgerySenior (Silver Medal), Mr. P. B. Conolly ; Certificates, Mr.Herbert Packer and Mr. J. A. Phillips. Surgery, Junior(Bronze Medal), Mr. D. Colquhoun; Certificates, Mr. Hay-ward Whitehead and Mr. Arthur Greenwood.SUMMER SESSION, 1874. - Botany (Silver Medal), Mr.

Sidney L. Newton; Certificates, Mr. D. Colquhoun and Mr.Arthur Greenwood. Materia Medica (Certificate), Mr. W.B. Hodgson. Midwifery (Certificate), Mr. P. B. Conolly.Forensic Medicine (Silver Medal), Mr. Walter J. Brookes;Certificate, Mr. D. S. E. Bain. Pathology (Silver Medal),Mr. Walter J. Brookes; Certificate, Mr. J. G. Blackman.Practical Chemistry (Silver Medal), Mr. D. Colquhoun;Certificates, Mr. Arthur Greenwood, Mr. Hayward White-head, and Mr. Sidney L. Newton. Psychological MedicinePrizes, Mr. P. B. Conolly and Mr. D. S. E. Bain.The prizes having been awarded, the gallant Admiral

made a most eloquent and feeling address to the students,and the proceedings terminated by the usual vote of thanks,which was proposed by Dr. Fayrer, one of the most distin-guished alumni of the school, and carried by acclamation.

THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE final arrangements have been completed for holdingthe 43rd annual meeting of this Association at Edinburghthe first week in August, Sir Robert Christison, M.D., beingthe President elect. On the first day, Tuesday, the 3rd ofAugust, the first general meeting of members will be held,at which the President will deliver an address; the annualreport of the Council will also be given at this meeting. Inthe evening a reception will be given in the UniversityLibrary. On Wednesday the second general meeting willbe held, at which the Address in Medicine will be given byJames Warburton Begbie, M.D., F.R.C.P., Edinburgh. Inthe evening a conversazione will be given by the RoyalCollege of Physicians of Edinburgh. On Thursday thethird general meeting will be held, at which the Address inSurgery will be given by Professor James Spence. Inthe evening the annual dinner of the Association will beheld. On Friday, the last day, the Address in Physiologywill be given by Professor Rutherford, and the concludinggeneral meeting will be held.

Correspondence.

ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL AT THE ROYALCOLLEGE OF SURGEONS.

.. Aucli alteram partem."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—The last election at the Royal College of Surgeonshas revealed a widespread discontent amongst the Fellows.

It is assumed that the members of the Council are elected

by the Fellows at large, but the election takes place at theCollege in London, whilst the majority of the electors residein the country hundreds of miles distant, so that it is not

possible that any election can represent the opinions of thegeneral body.

It is a mere mockery of justice to bestow a franchise onFellows which in so many cases they cannot possibly use,because they are unable to leave their duties, and incur thecost, the loss of time, and fatigue of the journey, simply toenable them to drop a voting paper into a ballot box.Every man entrusted with a vote is bound to have a

I bond fide opportunity of recording it; for if he has not, he isvirtually disenfranchised. For this reason Parliament has